Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement

March 20, 2005

Compared to their parents' generation, baby boomers have done less by every measure of civic engagement, including voting and joining community groups, so recruiting them as volunteers may take some large-scale efforts. Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement (highlights; full document,162 pages, PDF), a project of the Harvard School of Public Health and the MetLife Foundation, points out key issues in attracting boomer volunteers as they reach retirement. For instance, the current language of aging is obsolete and off-putting; a wide range of volunteer opportunities will be needed, including intergenerational programs; organizations may need retooling in order to attract and retain boomer volunteers; and communities should develop plans to involve boomer volunteers in tackling important local problems.